AmaZINE – ‘Sphinxes: The First Of Sages’

Welcome to the table,

Zines have always fascinated me. The ability to put down thoughts and ideas in words and images and bind it all together to make something you can hold in your hand, to me, feels like you actually made something that exists in the world. Something more than rough sketches on paper or ideas and game design notes scrawled into the margins of notebooks.

For those of you who may not know, a zine (pronounced zeen like seen) is typically an independent or self-published booklet that is usually presented in digest size (5.5 x 8.5 inches, or a sheet of copy paper folded in half). When I was young, the zines I saw or helped make were cobbled-together pages torn out of notebooks and sketchbooks that were all glued to a sheet of printer paper and then photocopied until someone’s teacher or aunt, or dad’s girlfriend told them to stop wasting paper.

All of these ill-gotten printed pages were stacked together, folded, and stapled to make a small booklet that collected all the thoughts and ideas we put into them. These things were not perfect by any means, they were a little smudged and a little rough, but they were freaking awesome because we felt like we were making something that was just for us and like-minded people.

This was, of course, a time when people were burning D&D books and snapping CDs that were not produced by religiously branded companies, so there were not a lot of like-minded people being vocal about being like-minded… but nevertheless! They were really cool and in a lot of ways, the feeling of being able to make something, to take ideas from start to finish, taught me problem-solving and instilled a love in me for seeing work fully imagined.

While I love working on big-budget projects, there will always be a part of me that is transported back to my strange childhood, sitting in the back of a moldy comic shop, thinking about how all it would take was a stack of folded paper, some staples, and a dream to change the world.

Fast forward to today, and zines are still being made by incredibly talented creators far and wide. Though the ones that cross my desk are more often than not made on computers, they still fill me with excitement every time I find them. One such zine that’s a must-have for fans of small press publishing and TTRPG* supplemental material is SPHINXES: The First of Sages by Alex Coggon and Charles Ferguson-Avery, published by one of my favorite small press publishers, Feral Indie Studios.

This 20-page zine is a treasure trove of lore and ideas about the enigmatic creatures known as sphinxes, and how they can be seamlessly integrated into your gaming table as friends or foes. Packed with boons, pact magic, spells, detailed role tables, and more, there’s plenty to love from cover to cover.

Personally, my favorite offering in this particular zine is Leu’li vac Oren, a sphinx who resides in a labyrinth of wrecked ships. The concept of a sphinx who is elusive, sometimes disappearing when you try to look at them, and who hoards seemingly useless treasures, feels so ripe for opportunities at the table.

But Leu’li is just the tip of the pyramid. Every page of SPHINXES: The First of Sages is a treasure trove of lore and story fluff that’s sure to captivate players and storytellers alike. From cover to cover, this zine is a creative labor of love, filled with imaginative ideas that will elevate your TTRPG experience to new heights.

As someone who has always been enamored with the magic of zines, SPHINXES: The First of Sages by Feral Indie Studios is a well-read addition on my zine shelf. It’s a testament to the enduring power of zines as a medium for creative expression and a reminder that all it takes is a stack of folded paper, some staples, and a dream to bring worlds to life.

Don’t miss out on this gem of a zine – it’s a must-have for any TTRPG enthusiast or lover of small-press publishing. Get your hands on SPHINXES: The First of Sages at the link while supplies last and add a little spice to your gaming night!

*TTRPG – Tabletop Roleplaying Game